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NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, responding to latest criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.

"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."

The quarterback's remarks directly referenced the infamous bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton led the Saints.

At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had rewarded team members for delivering hard hits on rival teams. As a result, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a full year.

What Sparked the Recent Exchange

Wilson's response came after Payton made remarks following Denver's remarkable comeback win over the New York. The coach suggested that the team had "discovered new energy" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.

Additionally, Payton implied that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against Wilson instead of Dart.

"I was talking to John Mara recently and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened long after our game,'" Payton commented.

Context of the Coach-QB Partnership

• Wilson was traded to the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M contract.
• The Broncos went 4-11 in his debut year before Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a period in broadcasting.
• The coach benched Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a move that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.

If Wilson stayed on the team by March 2024, his $37 million salary for the following year would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was released, ending the contentious split between the quarterback and his mentor.